My girlfriend and I were trying to figure out how much one of these places make. I have been batting around the idea of opening one of these up but also keeping the mobile side going. Problem is I can't really ask people here about it because of the competition problem. There is a 2 bay hand car wash around here and its pumping out cars left and right on beautiful days. Other days during the week they have quite a bit of cars as well. I am just curious as to how much these places are actually making. The operation I'm talking about has two areas where they wash, and then they pull around to a huge tent that they dry the cars under. He has a little trailer home type of building with a deck attaced for a sitting area. Nothing to crazy just simple. I have talked to some companys out in my area about land and they are wanting 150k a year around 12,500 a month, plus other bills and salary for the employees, you have to be making close to 30k a month or more for it to be worth it. They can't make that much can they? Can anyone shed light on this for me please. I appreciate the help.
Stationary Hand car washes
- Thread starter Mobilejay
- Start date
imported_PaPaHoFF1
New member
I too am wondering the same thing. This place that is partnered up with my lexus dealership that gets all of the business when the pipes are frozen in the winter. They have a different set up though. They have a tunnel like the brush car washes have with a track and everything but instead they have teams of guys that have pressure washers for the tires and wheels. then the next set has people with soap and mitts etc and then the last set rinses and before exiting it has a air drying machine that blows all of the water off. Pretty cool and the both lines are always into the street. I was looking into opening a touchless carwash and doing my detailing out of there but it is really expensive and not sure if I will make a profit or atleast break even.
imported_themightytimmah
New member
Well, to make 30k you'd need roughly 2000 cars a month, or like 8 washes per hour on average. Depends on your area and competition, but it should be doable.
Big investment, but *huge* profit potential. I've got two across the street from me in Boca, and they're both going gangbusters.
Big investment, but *huge* profit potential. I've got two across the street from me in Boca, and they're both going gangbusters.
See I think 2000 cars a month is do-able but man when it rains I'm going to be in the back chewing my finger nails off. Also the land is for leasing. What happens if they just all of a sudden say "you know, we are going to want something else out here instead of a car wash" then what? You have to pack up and leave?
imported_advs1
New member
well here in cali its not very profitable from what some owners have told me. they have a lot of cars, but with pay roll, insurance, state regs, fed regs i guess its a *****. one owner told he me barley breaks a profit most months. and now there are some places doing washes on regular cars for $4.99!! they do crap work and do a lot of damage but people still flock there. i mean they pay $4.99 and sit around for an hour. in an hour i can come to you, wash your car and you can still have a decent lunch.
One place I detailed at had this as their main business. They did detailing (me) and oil changes on an addition to the building.
I was told that they had to do 100 cars to break even for a day, including the employee wages. They were charging between $10-15 per car and had 10 employees making minimum wage. I had seen some days where they would only do 20 cars when it's raining; they would send half the employees home. However, I had seen other days where there would be well over 300 cars.
I was told that they had to do 100 cars to break even for a day, including the employee wages. They were charging between $10-15 per car and had 10 employees making minimum wage. I had seen some days where they would only do 20 cars when it's raining; they would send half the employees home. However, I had seen other days where there would be well over 300 cars.
How ironic.
Is this related. Does David have something else going on (HEHE) Autopia - 100% Hand Car Wash and Detailing Center - Walnut Creek / Fremont
Is this related. Does David have something else going on (HEHE) Autopia - 100% Hand Car Wash and Detailing Center - Walnut Creek / Fremont
Holden_C04
New member
howareb said:
I know of two business here that have adopt successful names:
1) Top Gear Motors
It's a used car dealership here. They even use the gear symbol that Top Gear does. BBC probably does not have a TM or copyright here so I don't think they can do anything.
2) Autopia Performance
This is a bodyshop here and a bit of a hackshop I presume. A lot of satisfied customers for sure but the only time he gets in touch with me he wants a $400 job for $200. Typical of the automotive aftermarket if you ask me.
Says he's a Cyclo user though.